Halasi

Halasi, a popular heritage site of Karnataka is located at a distance of 14 Km from Khanapur and 25 Km from Kittur in Background of Western Ghats in lush green surroundings. Halasi is also referred as Halsi or Halashi.Halasi is famous for having been the capital of a branch of Kadamba Dynasty. The Halasi town is rich in historical monuments and temples and is in Khanapur taulk of Belagavi district.

Halasi was the second capital of the Kadambas after Banavasi. The huge Bhoo Varaha Narasimha temple has tall idols of Varaha, Narasimha, Narayana and Surya. Halasi has a fort, and has also ancient temples dedicated to Lord Gokarneshswara, Lord Kapileshwara, Lord Swarneshwara and Lord Hatakeshwara.

Halasi was once the centre of Jainism, Vaishnavism and Shaivism during early Kadambas.

Bhoo Varaha Laxmi Narasimha Temple

Halasi was once called Palasika plus the Bhoo Varaha Laxmi Narasimha Temple at Halasi is one among the best examples of Kadamba style of architecture. The 50 feet tall tower of the inner shrine or garbhagruha could be very comparable to the Madhukeswar temple at Banavasi built by Kadambas. As per historians, the temple was constructed in the Kadamba time or 5th century AD, also inscriptions within the temple too support this.

As per the legend linked to this holy place, Pandavas constructed this temple in a single day during their exile and prayed Lord Vishnu at Halasi.

As per the temple priest, the two feet tall image of Lord Narasimha, towards left side of Vishnu, has appeared by itself (swayambhu or udbhava) and nobody has sculpted.

Inside the Bhoo Varaha Laxmi Narasimha Temple, Halasi

You will find two garbhagruhas in front of each other. In the right one, you can see four feet idol of Lord Shri Vishnu in the sitting position. The images of Lord Suryanarayana and Goddess Mahalaxmi are found behind the main idol.

The garbhagruha in the left side has the idol of Bhoo Varaha Swamy. In 1186-87, a 5 feet standing idol of Varaha was installed by Vijayaditya III. You can see the Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu carries Mother Earth (or Bhoodevi) in his mouth. The fantastically carved lotus in the ceiling goes to confirm of the fact that Kadambas patronised as well as developed their unique art form.

The Archeological Survey of India is taking care of this ancient monuments at Halasi.

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